Noonu Atoll

A luxury resort atoll in the northern Maldives, home to Soneva Jani, Cheval Blanc Randheli and Sun Siyam Iru Fushi — a favorite honeymoon pick.

Noonu Atoll (officially South Miladhunmadulu Atoll) lies in the northern Maldives, about 180 km from the capital, Malé. Dozens of small islands are scattered across the atoll, more than ten of them inhabited, with the capital at Manadhoo on the eastern side. It has one of the highest concentrations of top-tier resorts in the Maldives: Soneva Jani with its water villas with slides, LVMH's Cheval Blanc Randheli and the ultra-luxury Velaa Private Island are all here, alongside large family-friendly resorts with a wide range of room types such as Sun Siyam Iru Fushi and Siyam World. In the Maldives each island is one resort, so your time is mostly spent on resort activities: snorkeling, diving (at reef sites such as Orimas Thila), sunset dolphin cruises, picnics on uninhabited islands, spa treatments and stargazing. Turtles and rays are common, and turtles nest on some beaches. The best season is the Nov–Apr dry season, with calm seas and high visibility; May–Oct brings the rainy southwest monsoon, but prices drop considerably. Getting there: a seaplane from Malé takes about 40–45 minutes (daylight only), or take a domestic flight of about 45 minutes to Maafaru Airport and transfer by speedboat. You'll usually stay at one resort for your whole trip; 4–6 nights is recommended. Travel between islands requires boats arranged by the resort, so settle your itinerary when you choose your island.

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